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Heartland
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| Polaris
Sportsman 850 XP EPS makes racing debut
at 10 Hour Heartland Challenge with
a Podium Finish |
Minneapolis, MN (11/11/2008) - It
was a weekend about firsts. This was the first-annual
Heartland Challenge, it was the first time the
new Polaris Sportsman 850 XP EPS competed at
an AMA /ATVA Sanctioned event, and it was the
first time a Polaris 850 XP EPS Sportsman took
a podium spot at an AMA/ATVA Event.
he GBC Heartland Challenge was going to prove
to be a challenge indeed, with temperatures
dropping, rain falling and even a few stray
snowflakes. This 10-hour ATV endurance race
was set up on a brutal course to test rider
and machine, mentally, physically and mechanically.
Eight miles of mud, hills, trees, rock piles
and obstacles, to be ran at a grueling pace
for 10 solid hours, no breaks, no rest, no
time outs with half the race to be completed
in the dark. Calling this race a challenge
seemed like an understatement.
Saturday’s main event found teams that
were formed with two-to-three riders working
out the strategic game plans for the day including
rider swaps and fuel stops. The Polaris/Rath/Dunlop
team consisted of Daryl Rath, Frank Batista
and Jason Dunkelberger. Daryl Rath was going
to take the green flag and clock in the first
session. It was shortly after twelve noon
when the signal gun was fired and riders made
a running sprint to the machines to get this
race underway. The pit crew watched anxiously
as Rath headed out of sight and into the woods
before they headed to their stations to start
what would be a long day of watching and waiting.
As the race continued the Sportsman 850 XP
EPS handled everything and more that the track
handled it, and the team found themselves
running in a strong second place position.
Switching riders throughout the day the team
and machines continued to impress the fans,
and the team was gaining on first place.
It was Batista’s turn to keep pushing
forward and that he did, closing the gap even
more and then taking over the lead. As he
stopped to fuel the excitement in his voice
rev’d the team as he announced, “We
are leading…come on we are going to
do this.” Darkness was coming and it
was starting to feel even colder outside,
but the team knew there was work to do; they
still had four hours to go.
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Polaris / Rath Racing Team
Jason Dunkelberger, Daryl Rath, Frank
Batista finished 2nd in Pro Utility
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The team continued to lead as they clicked
off laps and watched the clock. It was time
again for Dunkelberger to get back on and
go to work. Everyone was excited, the fans
braved the cold to cheer the riders on, and
watch as the different teams proved what they
were made of. It was time for a set-back,
Dunkelberger got on the machine and just before
he clocked in a complete lap, his machine
suffered a small mechanical mishap, a broken
belt causing the loss of the entire lap’s
time of 23 minutes. Running a flawless race
until this lap the Sportsman 850 XP EPS was
a fierce competitor in the Utility class.
Even after the loss of those precious 23 minutes,
there were only two brands left on the lead
Utility Lap.
With a little more than two hours to go,
the team was unable to regain the lead, but
accomplished the goals set by themselves and
Polaris. Run a great race, prepare for the
2009 season aboard the newly-appointed contender
in the GNCC National Cross Country Utility
Class. That they did, with a podium to boot!
For more information about the Polaris/Rath/Dunlop
team at www.polarisrathteam.com
The Polaris/Rath/Dunlop team is sponsored
by: Polaris Industries – Rath Racing
– Dunlop Tires – Fox Shox –
FMF Exhausts -DWT Douglas Wheel Technologies–
B&B Racing Engines –Wiseco - RPM-
Fly Racing –Torco Fuels - Dirty Dawg
Performance -Hinson Clutch Components - Xstream
Composites- Precision Racing Products - Amsoil
– WPS – QuadTech – UpDog
– Powermadd – Tireballs –
Faast Co. – Scott Goggles – PEP
– CV4 – K&N Filters
About Polaris:
With annual 2007
sales of $1.8 billion, Polaris designs, engineers,
manufactures and markets all-terrain vehicles
(ATVs), including the Polaris RANGER(tm), snowmobiles
and Victory motorcycles for recreational and
utility use.
Polaris is a recognized
leader in the snowmobile industry, one of
the largest manufacturers of all terrain recreational,
utility and side-by-side vehicles (ATVs) in
the world, and rapidly making impressive in-roads
into the motorcycle cruiser and touring marketplace
under the Victory(r) brand. The Victory motorcycle
division was established in 1998 representing
the first all-new American-made motorcycle
from a major company in nearly 60 years. Polaris
also enhances the riding experience with a
complete line of Pure Polaris apparel, accessories
and parts, available at Polaris dealerships.
Polaris Industries Inc.
trades on the New York Stock Exchange under
the symbol "PII," and the Company
is included in the S&P Small-Cap 600 stock
price index.
Information about the
complete line of Polaris products, apparel
and vehicle accessories are available from
authorized Polaris dealers or anytime from
the Polaris homepage at www.polarisindustries.com.
